Julie Cunningham Shackford “Shacks”

Fernando Mendoza went from being a barely recruited 2-star prospect, to a third-string college QB, to winning the Heisman trophy and College Football National Championship. It’s cool to care. Be yourself and go all the way. In an era where people are afraid to be called “cringe,” Mendoza led the Indiana Hoosiers’ historic turnaround with his heart on his sleeve and a captivating earnestness. After leading the Hoosiers to an improbable Big 10 Championship over Ohio State, Mendoza barely held back tears in an emotional post-game interview, which had a commentator opining, “Did Mendoza just lose the Heisman with that interview?” A week later, Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy. He cried during that speech, too. He said, “I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated, to know I was you. I was that kid too. I was in your shoes. The truth is, you don’t need the most stars, hype or rankings. You just need discipline, heart, and people who believe in you and you need to believe in your own abilities." Perhaps Mendoza isn’t the best player in college football in spite of how much he cares; perhaps he is the best player in college football because of how much he cares. And that he isn’t scared to be seen caring. Mendoza didn’t waste time or energy playing a certain part. He needed every heartbeat to rise from a little known afterthought to the best college football player in the world. The point isn’t that we should try to be more like Mendoza. It’s that we waste so much time and energy worrying about what others think and mimicking them instead of owning who we are and harnessing it for greatness. The variety of caring that living an excellent life requires is neither saccharine nor solely focused on outcomes. It’s a process of laying it on the line and giving something your full effort, and it must be renewed every day. It means that in success and even in failure you can be proud of the effort you gave, the guts you showed, and the person you are becoming. Fernando Mendoza is a great model for young athletes (and really, all people). Worrying about what others think is an enormous black hole of energy. It keeps so many on the sidelines and short of realizing their potential. Being comfortable with who you are and giving it your all is a superpower. At its best, excellence is an expression of authenticity. You pour who you are into what you do. You don’t need to fit someone else’s idea of what it means to be great. What you need is to put in the work. Be yourself. And go all the way.